Armor-piercing projectile



Patented Aug. 5, 1924.

UNITED STATES GEORGIE. RYAN, F EKO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

ARMOR-PERCING -PBDJEGTILE Application nea April 1, me sensi no.' 103,449.

A to provide in this type of construction a shielding nose for the projectile' formed of soft metal lwhich protects the penetratin end from damage, and in that t of she in which the netrator head 1s given a 2@limited longitu inal movement for the purpose of detonating an explosive charge carried by the shell; for the further purpose of preventing contact with the penetrator which would cause such movement A still further object of the invention is to provide a'. shell of this character which ma be very cheaplyand readily produced an which is capable of carrying a relativel large char of high explosive 1f so desire A. still rther object of the invention is to provide in a shell of this type a suflicient protection for the'l penetrator to prevent.

tearin and damage ofthe riding of the A ns during passage of the shells theret rough.

These and other objects I attain. by the y ,construction shown in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein for the purpose of illustrationl is shown a referred embodiment of my invention an wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation showing an explosive form of shell constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of lii re 1;

igure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a solid type of shell constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fi ,5' re 3.

ferring now more particularly to the particularly to thaty drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the body of the shell provided adjacent its-rear end w1th a rifli'rgl band 11 of any suitable construction. ev forward end or nose of the shell 1s tapered, as at l2, and truncated, as at 13. Axially of the shell in this truncated end a recess is formed of the same diameter as the penetrator 15 which is to be emloyed. This enetrator is preferably in the orm of a hig -grade drill structure which 1s highly tempered. The rear end of this dnllseats against a plate 16, the shank 17 of the drill being extended through the plate at thev center thereof. In the form shown in Figure 3 this 18 formed by e juncture. of the lower end of the bore 14 with a reduced continuation thereof, indicated at 19, this reduced continuation being preferably. square in cross section to conform to the shaping of the drill shank.

ln the form shown in Fi res 1 and 2, wherein the shell is of the igh explosive type and has an interiorly formed cavity 20 for the reception of high explosive, the cavity 14 is madeof greater depth than in the form just described and has seated therepllate seats against shoulders t in acasting 21 forming a socket for the drill I shank.` In this form the casting has a central bore 22 conforming to the sha of ,the drill shank and the front face` o this casting forms a seat for springs 23 extending'between this face' and the fplate 16 and forming a cushioning spring r the penetrator or drill. I

The lower end of the bore 14 communicates with a reduced axial bore 24 communicatingwith the adjacent end of the explosive receiving cavity 20, this reduced bore 24 forming a guide for a detonator pin 25. In the 4adjacent end of the explosive chamber a detonator cap 26 is arranged and the head of the pin 25 is arran d in the path of movement of the shan and more particularly in the path of movement vao o'f a reduced extension 27 of the shank for Y engagement thereby when the drill or penetrator is forced rearwardly by contact of the shell with the target.v In order that movement of the pin 25 may be prevented until the penetrator moves rearwardly, the forward or head end of this in is embedded in soft lead or the like, as indicated, to hold the same firmly in position.

In each form of the shell it will be'noted that the tapering of the forward end of the shell formed upon the body of the shell, as indicated at 12, is continued by a solld mass of soft metal 28 such 1 as lead or the like in which the projecting end oi the penetrator is embedded. This covering 28 efectually prevents movement of the penetrator with relation to the shell under any ordinary circumstances and at the same time serves to shield the riding of the n with which the shell is employed afglprinst contact with the penetrator and to ther prevent disastrous effects to clothing, woodwork and the like when contact of the penetrator is had therewith. c

The use of the first form ofv shell described will be obvious, this consisting merely of an armor piercing shell to which rotation is applied to the riding'band. Particular attention is directed to the fact that this ridin band is located at the rear end of the' she so that an im ulse applied thereto by a fired chargewill e continued to the muzzle of the gun thereby assuring a maxrotation of the shell. Upon contact of the shell with the target the soft nose will be crushed exposing the enetrator or drill which, through the rotative action ofA the shell, will tend to worm its way into the obstruction. It is well known that a shell can readily pass through an opening once formed no matter whether this opening be smaller than the body of the shell or not.

In the second type of shell disclosedthe action is similar to that vof the first shell ex cept that the penetrator before coming into action moves rearwardly until it comes against-the front face of the casting 21.

During this rearward 'movement it moves the pin 25 to detonate the contained explosive charge. The period of detonation can, of course, be regulated so that thisdetonation takes' place after the shell has piercedl the objective.'

The cushioning springs 23 soften the impact of the drill which is, of course, of hardened steel at its end, thus reventing shattering of the drill. They urther assist in preventing rearward movement of the drill portion which would tend to `operate the detonator. Positive means are provided, however, for preventing such rearward movement comprisin frangible braces 29 extendingV between t plates 16 and the plate arranged upon the front face of the casting 21. These braces may be of any suitable material as, for example, wood and under Aimpact of the shell are designed to crush permitting rearward movement of the drill until it comes to a solid rest. Since the structures hereinbefore set forth are capable specific structures except as.

embedded in the last named end of the shel ,l v

and a covering of soft metal in which the rejecting end of the penetrator drill is emdded, com rising a continuation Vof the taper of the ody of the shell.

2. In an armor piercing shell, a shell having a body provided u on its periphery at one end with a riding blind and having the opposite end thereof provided with a truncated taper, a penetrator drill axially embedded in the last named end of the shell, and a covering of soft metal in which the projectin end of the penetrator drill is embedde comprising a continuation of the taper of the body-of the shell,osaid penetrator drill having a shank preventin rotation'thereof with relation to the she 3. In an armor piercing shell, a shell having a body provided upon its periphery at one end with a riding band and having the opposite end thereof provided with a truncated taper, a penetrator drill axially embedded in the last named end of the shell, and a covering of softmetal in which the projecting end of the penetrator drill is embedded, comprising a continuation of the taper of the body of the shell, said penetrator point being mounted for limited shifting movement longitudinally of the shell and being held against such movement by the soft metal point.

4. In an armor iercing shell, a shell having'a body provi ed upon its peri hery at one end with a riding band an having the opposite end thereof provided with a 4truncated taper, a penetrator drill axiall embedded in thelast namedend ofthe shel a covering of soft metal in which the pro- Lectinv end ofl the penetrator drill is emedde, comprising a continuation of the taper of the body of the shell, said penetrator point being mounted for limited shifting movement longitudinally of the shell and being held against such movement by the soft metal point, an explosive charge in the body of the shell, and means where- 4by axial movement of the penetrator of the shell upon impact of the shell with the target explodes said charge.

5. In an armor piercing shell, a shell having'a body provided upon its eriphery at one end with a riding band and) having the opposite end thereof provided with a ytruncated taper, a penetrator drill axially emlne hedded in the lest named end of the shell, a. shell end being held againstsuoh movement covering of soft metal in which the proby the soft metal point, and rengible elejeeting end of the penetrator drill is emments further limiting movement of said 10 bedded, oomprising e continuation of the penetrator point.

5 tepel' of the body of the shell, said pene- In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my tretor point being mounted for limited signature. shifting movement longitudinally of the GEORGE M. RYAN. 

